Closure for multiple dose vials



July 17, 1951 E. E. SCHULER 2,561,294

CLOSURE FOR MULTIPLE DOSE VIALS Filed March 24, 1948 INVENTOR. EDWARD E.SCHULER ATTORNEYS Patented July 17, 1951 CLOSURE FOR MULTIPLE DOSE VIALSEdward E. Schuler, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., assignor to Parke, Davis &Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 24,1948, Serial No. 18,638

3 Claims. 1

The invention relates to closures for medicament holding vials and, moreparticularly, for multiple dose vials.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a closure which not onlyforms an effective seal, but is also one which has no detrimental eifecton the contents of the vial. In this connection it may be stated thatrubber gaskets, which are frequently used for closures, do aifectcertain medicaments reacting therewith to form products which are notsoluble in the aqueous solution of the medicinal. This is highlydetrimental. On the other hand closure materials which are inert to themedicament are not as well adapted for forming a hermetic seal.

To overcome this diificulty, I have devised a closure construction whichincludes effective sealing means and also means which precludes anycontact of the medicament in the vial with such sealing means. More indetail, my invention consists in a closure construction including a plugformed of inert material for closing the mouth of the vial, a sealinggasket covering said plug and having direct contact with a top of thevial, and retaining cap for securing these elements to the via].

The invention further consists in the specific construction ashereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical section through a portion of a vialshowing the closure elements in position thereon but before theretaining cap is secured;

Fig. 2 is a further enlarged section through a portion of Figure 1 withthe retaining cap in position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the capped vial.

As above stated, my improved closure includes a plug having apuncturable diaphragm and which is formed of material that will have noreaction upon the medicament. For this purpose various plastics might beused, but it is important that the material should retain its rigidityunder sterilizing temperature. A suitable material having suchqualification is "ny- Ion."

As illustrated A is the upper neck portion of a vial for containing themedicament. B is the plug. which has an annular portion fitting themouth of the vial with an inwardly extending flange B' and a radialflange B slightly overlapping the top of the vial. There is also a thindiaphragm portion B within the annular portion. C is an outer closuremember preferably formed of rubber or similar resilient material and ex-2 tending radially beyond the flange B so as to have a portion C' indirect sealing contact with the top 01' the vial. D is a retaining caphaving a portion D' which is spun beneath a shoulder A on the vial tohold the members B and C in position.

The application of the retaining caps D is usually performed by amachine, but it is necessary that the closure should be first engagedwith the vial to retain the same in position. The member B will be thusretained by the flanges B and B. In order that the member C may also beproperly positioned, I preferably provide the member B with an upwardlyextending annular flange B which engages a recess C in the member C. Themember C is also recessed to receive the flange B so that the sealingportion C will extend downward at least as far as the under face of saidflange. Thus both members C and B will be held in exact registrationwith the vial so as to receive the cap D in the operation of themachine.

The cap D is preferably formed of metal and has an outer portion D'-which extends completely across the top of the vial enclosing the memberC. There is also an inner annular portion D which leaves an open center.The outer portion D is of a construction that may be torn off, whichwill leave the closure still in sealing engagement with the vial butwith the central portion of the gasket C expo: ed. This permits theoperator to puncture the closure by a hypodermic needle which extendsthrough both the gasket C and the diaphragm 3. Upon withdrawal of theneedle, the diaphragm is not self-sealing but it nevertheless keeps themedicament out of contact with the gasket, and the latter re-seals. Thisoperation may be repeated for withdrawing other doses until all of themedicament in the vial has been used up.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A closure for medicament holding vials comprising a plug memberformed of molded plastic material which is non-reactive to themedicament content of the vial, said member having an annular portionfitting within the mouth of the vial and slightly overlapping the topthereof, also having an upwardly extending flange and an integral thindiaphragm portion extending across said annular portion, a separategasket member of resilient yieldable material recessed to receive saidupwardly extending flange and extending beyond the latter into directsealing contact with the top of the vial, and a cap for retaining saidmembers in position.

2. A closure for medicament holding vials comprising a plug memberformed of molded plastic material which is rigid at sterilizingtemperature and is non-reactive to the medicament content of the vial,said member having an annular portion including a flange extending intothe mouth oi the via], a flange slightly overlapping the top of thevial, an upwardly extending flange, an integral thin puncturablediaphragm extending across said annular portion, a separate gasketmember oi resilient yieldable material covering said plug member andextending beyond the latter into direct sealing contact with the top ofthe vial, said gasket being recessed for receiving said upwardlyextending flange and being held thereby in registration with the vial,and a cap for retaining said members in position.

3. A closure for medicament holding vials compressing a plug memberwhich is rigid at a temperature of 212 F. and having an annular portionincluding a flange extending into the mouth of the via], a radiallyextending flange slightly overlapping the top of the vial, an upwardlyextending flange, and an integral thin puncturable diaphragm extendingacross the annular portion, a separate gasket member of resilientyieldable material covering said plug member and ex- 4 tending beyondthe latter into direct sealing contact with the top of the vial. saidgasket being recessed for receiving said upwardly extending flange andbeing held thereby in registration with the vial, and a cap forretaining said members in position.

EDWARD E. SCHULER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,413,703 Biehn Apr. 25, 19221,423,105 Hansen July 18, 1922 1,423,106 Hansen July 18, 1922 1,617,066Lush Feb. 8, 1927 1,995,350 Hoag Mar. 26, 1935 2,099,370 Monnier Nov.16, 1937 2,191,495 Nesset Feb. 27, 1940 2,200,600 Grapp May 14, 19402,238,681 Dorough Apr. 15, 1941 2,325,309 DeSwart July 27, 19432,431,303 Billmeyer Nov. 25, 1947 2,438,149 Cutter et a1 Mar. 23, 1948

